The latest reports out of Libya indicate that the Presidency Council of the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord has reversed its previous rejection of the new banknotes which were printed in Russia for the Thinni government in Beida. Although similar in design and size to the existing notes issued by the internationally-recognized Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, the new notes have different security features, watermarks, and serial numbers.

The rival Central Banks in Tripoli and Beida will apparently jointly supervise the issue of new notes which will circulate throughout the country to alleviate the cash shortage. The new Russian-printed note are to be issued on 1 June 2016.

According to an article in The Libya Observer dated 25 May 2016, the eastern Central Bank of Libya (based in the city of Bayda, not the capital Tripoli) plans to introduce new 20- and 50-dinar notes on 1 June 2016. 4-billion dinars worth of new notes were reportedly printed in Russia (likely by Goznak) and bear the signature of Governor Ali Al-Hibri, the rival for Tripoli-based Governor Al-Siddig Al-Kabir. The new notes will reportedly circulate in parallel with the existing notes of the same denominations (B544 and B545, respectively). The designs of both are very similar, though there are slight changes to the security features, and the serial number at right front is horizontal, not vertical, and neither serial number has ascending size digits.

These images are reportedly of the dinar notes intended for the bank in eastern Libya.

According to an article in The Guardian dated 20 May 2016, there are reports that Libya's unity government may be undermined by the introduction of two different sets of new dinar notes from competing central banks: the UN-recognized Tripoli government led by Fayez Sarraj and the Tobruk-based parliament loyal to General Khalifa Haftar in the east. Apparently De La Rue has recently delivered new notes to the Tripoli bank, whereas Ali Salim al-Hibri, once recognized as the bank governor by the International Monetary Fund, claims to have printed dinars with the help of the Russian state (Goznak). While no images of either notes are yet available, "The two currencies would have different serial numbers, security details and watermarks, diplomats say."

Curiously, these notes are different than those shown in the following photograph which appeared in photographs in various news sources in early 2013. All denominations except for the 5- and 10-dinar notes shown below were eventually issued that year. In October 2013, gunmen stole 55 million dinars worth of notes from a bank van. If the unissued notes were part of the loot, it's possible that the bank decided to change the designs to make the haul worthless.

According to an article in Korea Times dated 24 June 2014, Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp. (KOMSCO) has seen its production volume halved over the past five years, and hopes to utilize excess capacity by obtaining contracts to print banknotes for other countries. Countries for which KOMSCO has produced or is producing "currencies" (may include coins, not just banknotes) include China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Peru, Switzerland, Thailand, and Vietnam. Last year KOMSCO won an order from Peru to produce 305 million 50-nuevo sole notes, with delivery to be completed by the end of June 2014.

According to a Reuters article dated 29 October 2013, 10 gunmen intercepted a van carrying $55 million in cash when it left the airport in Sirte on its way to the local central bank branch. No word yet on the notes which were stolen, but in the past other nations have responded to large-scale robberies by issuing notes in new colors or designs to thwart the use of the ill-gotten gains.

According to an article in the Libya Herald, reportedly the Central Bank of Libya will issue new notes on 31 January 2013. The notes are denominated in 1, 5, 10, and 20 dinars. A 50-dinar note was considered but not issued "in a bid to control the black economy." No word yet on when existing notes will cease to be legal tender.

According to a subsequent article in the Libya Herald, the notes will be issued on 17 February, the second anniversary of the revolution, and will include the 50-dinar denomination after all.

The Libya chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale at US$9.99, and as a free download to subscribers.

This 25-page catalog covers every note (177 types and varieties, including 63 notes unlisted in the SCWPM) issued by the Military Authority in Tripolitania in 1943, the République Française (French Republic) in 1943, the Kingdom of Libya in 1952, the United Kingdom of Libya in 1955, the National Bank of Libya from 1958 to 1963, the Bank of Libya in 1963, and the Central Bank of Libya from 1971 to present day. Published 11 January 2013.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap

Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender

Specific identification of all vignette elements

Security features described in full

Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note

Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter

Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list

Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM

Date reproduced exactly as on note

Precise date of introduction noted when known

Replacement note information

Signature tables, often with names and terms of service

Background information for historical and cultural context

Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties

Bibliographic sources listed for further research

Subscribe to The Banknote BookIf you collect the entire world or a large number of countries, buying a $99 annual subscription is the best deal because it's less expensive than buying chapters individually, and it entitles you to every chapter currently available as well as everything published—or revised (click here to see the Change Log)—during the next 12 months.

Sign up for Email NotificationsIf you would like to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter of The Banknote Book is published, please join the email list by clicking the button below.

This post on Facebook includes images of Libya's new 5- and 10-dinar notes. Both denominations have been confirmed already, but curiously the images show two different varieties of the 10-dinar note. The upper one printed by De La Rue has prefix 7 and the bank's name on back is rendered with initial-capitals, whereas the lower one printed by Oberthur has prefix 1 and the bank's name in all-caps. The square security feature at upper right front is also different, as are the windowed security threads, and the Oberthur issue has a crecent moon and star at upper left front. Finally, the De La Rue issue is undated.

5 dinars (US$4.05), no date. Like P72, but serial number prefix 7A, new signature (presumably Al-Seddiq Omar al-Kabir, but possibly Gasem Azzoz, and in any event, slightly different than that on the 10-dinar note dated 17-2-2011), English text replaces Arabic text on back, the removal of the reference to the Gadaffi era “Jamahiriya” from the front and upper right back, and Gadaffi-era falcon crest is removed from the monument to the Battle of Al-Hani.

10 dinars (US$8), 17-2-2011. Like CBL B37 (P73), but new date, new signature (possibly Gasem Azzoz, new governor as of September 2011), new demetalization on windowed thread, new hologram on upper right front, and the removal of the reference to the Gadaffi era “Jamahiriya” from the front and upper right back, plus the use of English on the notes for the first time in two decades. Furthermore, the serial number prefix system has apparently been reset to 1.

The 10-dinar note features Oberthur’s new Jasper hologram, which combines a hologram with blind embossing in 3D, with at least two optical effects, as well as anti-photocopy and anti-scanner characteristics.

Anyone interested in buying one of these notes can contact the contributor by clicking the link below. Be sure to say you saw it mentioned on BanknoteNews.com.

According to an article on Trend.com dated 13 September 2011, banks in Libya are withdrawing 50-dinar (US$40.70) banknotes from circulation because they feature a large portrait of Muammar Gaddafi, who has recently been ousted from power but whose location remains uncertain. "The banks have agreed to collect the notes and to hand them over to the Central Bank," said Talal al Dhaguissi, an official in charge of a branch of Libya's National Commercial Bank in capital Tripoli, according to TAP. There’s no word on whether the Central Bank of Libya will destroy the withdrawn notes or overprint the portait and recirculate them eventually.

The United Nations has approved the release of 1.86 billion (US$1.5 billion) worth of Libyan dinar banknotes printed by De La Rue. The notes had been held in the UK under sanctions imposed on the Gaddafi regime, but will now be delivered to the Central Bank of Libya.

There’s an interesting article on MailOnline about Britain’s successful ploys to prevent Gaddafi from taking possession of new Libyan banknotes worth 1.8 billion dinars. Although it is unnamed in the article, the printer of these notes is De La Rue.

These notes, all issued 3 March 2009, are like the preceding issues of the same denominations (and are of the same physical sizes), but with reworked designs and enhanced security features. The 20-dinar note is said to have been officially introduced on the same date, but is not yet widely available in circulation as apparently the central bank has a good stock of the older style 20-dinar notes.